Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting but I've been lurking for a few weeks. My family is currently making the transition to raw. My daughter (turns 2 in a few weeks) and I have been 100% for 2 weeks now and on and off raw for a few months before that. My hasband has just joined us in being raw a few days ago.
I would love to meet other raw fooders in Melbourne especially families or have contact with other raw families in Australia.
I'd also love some tips on good raw meals for toddlers. Has anyone here started a baby on raw food? My sister-in-law wants to and doesn't know where to start. Any experiences?
Thanks,
Alice

Hi Alice

i was raised on raw, my mum says she use to put a few things in front of me and let me choose - when i was really young I remember pureed apples where my favourite, and i think they still might be

I had a friends 2 year old daughter come visit a few months back. On their arrival i put out a bowl of plums and grapes, and took interest in how she was enjoying the fruit. She was later asked what she wanted for lunch ....  "Watermelon" she said without thinking.
I later found out they had pasta for lunch.

From childhood we associate life through colours - and a lot of what we want has to do with seeing the colour first. I look at the fruit bowl and i scan over the various colours - then my brain goes ... do you want an apple, manderine, maybe a pear..?? then taste associations kick in
Try asking your daughter what she feels like. Maybe show her what her options look like and see how she responds. Could be interesting

Hi Alice,  Im not sure if youve seen Storm and Jinjee's website, www.thegardendiet.com, they have an e-book on bringing up kids on raw food. It looks pretty good. I am asking my mum to buy me the set for my next b'day.

Oksyoks, I (like Neet) would love to hear more about your experiences of being raised as raw.

big smiles,

Perilla.

Hey Alice,

also have a look at Shazzie.com in her journal and recipe sections to see how she is raising her toddler Evie 100% raw.  You can also listen to her speak on the rawveganradio.com  podcast  x

hi alice.  I hope you find some other families nearby.  we're in sa & have 2 children, 4.5yrs and 6 months.  starting babies off on raw is so simple if you're still breastfeeding. 
with my first she wasn't interested much in eating till she was nearly one - she'd play with food and chew on things but always pushed it out when she was done! she always had access to bf on demand at all times.  she gradually became interested in food more and more - fruits, veg, juices, smoothies, dried fruit, seaweed, dried tomatoes, fruit icecreams, fruit puddings etc whatever I ate or was in the house.  she wasn't fussy at all, with greens I usually would blend or process them for her salads, blended veg soups, green smoothies etc.  nori rolls and veg dips/soups and green smoothies are our staples lately.
with our new babe he is the opposite - b/f on demand also, but he is eating a lot too and has never refused any food - in fact he demands to be included with everything we eat, and consumes a lot.  very messy!  so far has been having either a fruit mashed up (avocado, banana, custard apple, sapote, apple), or smoothie (fruit and greens or grass juice), or simple avo/veg dip blend.  When we're out he might gnaw on something like dried peach or seaweed.  The first things both of them ever had was to chew on hard foods like celery sticks, carrots, apples, spinach stalks etc, but when strong gums & teeth come along they're not so good, and we switched to soft or blended foods. 
I try to provide a table and houseful of good foods and they choose.  we grow some of our own food which is fun for kids & they love to eat their own beans, peas, tomatoes, greens....